Former Philippine President Arroyo Files for Constitutional Changes

On her first day after stepping down as the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a member of the House of Representatives, filed a bill calling for changes in the country’s constitution.

Arroyo served as the country’s Head of State for nine years has always been supportive of any move to change the constitution. Opposition however thwarted any plans believing that it will help extend her term at the helm of the nation’s government. The presumed target was to change the form of government from presidential to parliamentary.

She made the unprecedented move where an incumbent president run for a lower position during a national elections. She won the congressional seat for the second district of Pampanga, her home province. The position was previously held be her eldest son, Juan Miguel Arroyo.

The spokesman for newly inaugurated President Benigno Aquino III, Secretary Edwin Lacierda, said that Arroyo’s first move in the Congress was not a surprise.

Various corruption charges were filed against Arroyo after she stepped down from office since her immunity was also lifted when her term expired.